The illustrated Beatus : a corpus of the illustrations of the Commentary on the Apocalypse. [ 5 vols, complete set ] by Williams, J - 1994-2003

Harvey Miller, London, first editions, 1994-2003. 5 vols, cloth, 4to, 34 cm,. 215, [1] pp, 141 ills (of which 100 are colour) + m319 pp, 407 ills + 386, [1] pp, 480 iulls + 356 pp, 418 ills + 414 pp, 535 ills. A complete set of of the 5-volume series of catalogues providing full descriptions and complete cycles of illustrations of all extant manuscripts of Beatus' Commentary on the Apocalypse. From the introduction to the fourth volume "This volume is the fourth in the series of catalogues that offer full descriptions and complete cycles of illustrations of all extant manuscripts of Beatus' Commentary on the Apocalypse. The monk Beatus, of the monastery of Santo Toribio in the valley of Liebana, compiled his commentary on the Book of Revelation in 776 AD, and it has come down to us in thirty-two manuscripts and fragments ranging from the ninth to the thirteenth century. Twenty-six of these extant codices are illuminated with a series of extraordinary illustrations which represent the greatest single tradition of Apocalyptic imagery in the Middle Ages. The present catalogue covers the manuscripts produced during the eleventh and twelth centuries. It includes the Osma Beatus, dated and begun in 1086; the Turin Beatus, the only example of a Catalonian illustrated Commentary; the Silos Beatus, an exceptionally opulent and well-preserved manuscript in the British Library; the Corsini Beatus, a small and fragmentary manuscript now in Rome; the Leon Fragment and finally the Berlin Beatus, a twelfth-century copy that originated in Italy. All illustrations in these six manuscripts are reproduced and each catalogue entry discusses the location of production, the work of the outstanding illuminators and scribes, as well as details of codicology. A short introduction places the manuscripts in their historical context and analyses the style of the miniatures. In addition all inscriptions in the miniatures are transcribed, and there are Tables of Apocalypse subjects, an exhaustive bibliography and Index. Near Fine set in Near Fine dustwrappers.